Obama pushes Congress to help states hire teachers

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Financial mania: Why bankers and politicians failed to heed warnings of the credit crisis

Financial mania: Why bankers and politicians failed to heed warnings of the credit crisis

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Western economies displayed the same kind of manic behaviour as psychologically disturbed individuals in the run up to the 2008 credit crisis -- and it could happen again, according to a new study.

Bankers, economists and politicians shared a "manic culture" of denial, omnipotence and triumphalism as they threw caution to the wind, says Professor Mark Stein, the award-winning academic from the University of Leicester School of Management.

Observing - but not heeding - the warning signs from the collapse of the Japanese economy in 1991 and the 1998 crisis in south-east Asia, the financial world in the West went into an over-drive of denial, escalating its risky and dangerous lending and insurance practices in a manic response, he says.

Professor Stein, who has today (June 7) been awarded the iLab prize for innovative scholarship, identifies and describes this manic behaviour in the 20-year run up to the credit crisis in a paper published in the Sage journal Organization.

The causes of the banking collapse that plunged the UK and many other countries into recession have been well documented but an important question remains: Why did economists, financiers and politicians fail to anticipate it?

Professor Stein argues that the financial world was suffering from collective mania in the two decades running up to the events. "Unless the manic nature of the response in the run up to 2008 is recognised, the same economic disaster could happen again," he warns.

He defines the manic culture in terms of the four characteristics of denial, omnipotence, triumphalism and over-activity. "A series of major ruptures in capitalist economies were observed and noted by those in positions of economic and political leadership in Western societies. These ruptures caused considerable anxiety among these leaders, but rather than heeding the lessons, they responded by manic, omnipotent and triumphant attempts to prove the superiority of their economies."

The massive increase in credit derivative deals, industrializing credit default swaps and the removal of regulatory safety checks, such as the repeal in the United States of the landmark Glass-Steagall banking controls were a manic response to the financial crises within capitalism," he says.

Professor Stein's award-winning research paper - A culture of mania: a psychoanalytic view of the incubation of the 2008 credit crisis ? says this behaviour was also strengthened by "triumphant" feelings in the West over the collapse of communism.

"Witnessing the collapse of communism, those in power in the West developed the deluded idea that capitalist economies would do best if they eschew any resemblance to those communist economies, thereby justifying unfettered financial liberalization and the destruction of the regulatory apparatuses of capitalism. The consequences of this manic response have been catastrophic, with the on-going eurozone crisis being - in many ways - a result of this," he says.

"Whether one examines the actions of banks and hedge funds, or the limitations of ratings agencies, auditors, regulators and governments, a more worrying and deeper question emerges concerning why so many parties, more or less simultaneously, were implicated in such unprecedented and extreme risk-taking."

###

University of Leicester: http://www.leicester.ac.uk

Thanks to University of Leicester for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pushes pension reform

With two of the state's largest cities voting to roll back pension benefits for workers, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called Thursday for Los Angeles officials to speed up his proposal for reducing pensions for new city employees.

In a letter to City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, Villaraigosa asked that his proposal to increase the retirement age, require larger contributions from workers and a cap on benefits move ahead as quickly as possible.

Voters in San Diego and San Jose on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved separate proposals designed to rein in pension costs.

In San Diego, voters said they wanted to freeze all salaries for six years and require new employees to be switched over to a 401(k) type pension system.

In San Jose, voters called on current employees to increase their pension contributions or agree to accept reduced benefits.

Villaraigosa said L.A. needs to directly address pensions, one of the biggest expenses the city faces in its $7.2 billion budget.

"A critical component of the budget I proposed for next year is a pension reform plan for new civilian employees," Villaraigosa said, adding he wanted a report to the Executive Employee Relations Committee as soon as possible to try to get the reforms in place by July 1.

Voters already have approved reforms for the police and fire pension systems. Changes to the civilian system, however, only require action by the City Council.

The

mayor's proposal includes raising the retirement age from 55 to 67 and increasing employee contributions to the pension system. He's also looking at controls on health care costs.

The mayor said he is concerned that future pension costs could be 30percent of every dollar the city spends on employee salaries.

Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said Villaraigosa should strike now with so much public interest in the issue.

"This is the biggest appetite for pension reform that I've seen," Coupal said. "I do think if he's going to do it, it should be a substantive proposal and not just window dressing."

Also, Coupal said the city should expect the unions to file legal actions to challenge any changes in court.

"The city cannot let that stop any reforms," Coupal said.

Cheryl Parisi of the Coalition of L.A. City Unions said an agreement was reached last year with the city to reduce pension costs by 13 percent.

"That's $63 million in this year's budget," Parisi said. "This is too complicated an issue to rush through without more detailed study and making sure workers end up with a pension that keeps them out of poverty."

Parisi said city workers need to rely primarily on their city pension after retirement, since most are not able to draw on Social Security.

rick.orlov@dailynews.com

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Nigerian banker urges a businesslike approach to poverty in Africa

Tony Elumelu, who has become one of Africa?s most prominent philanthropists, calls his idea 'Africacapitalism' ? an African-run effort that uses business concepts to fight poverty.

By Caroline Preston,?The Chronicle of Philanthropy / June 5, 2012

Mo Ibrahim (left) is a telecommunications entrepreneur born in Sudan who has created the Mo Ibrahim Prize for achievement in African leadership. Tony Elumelu, a Nigerian businessman, is one of several successful Africans following in Mr. Ibrahim's footsteps and becoming prominent philanthropists.

Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters/File

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Tony Elumelu, a Nigerian businessman, joined with five other colleagues to put up $5 million in 1997 to acquire a struggling Nigerian bank. Five years later, the bank merged with another to become the largest in West Africa, employing about 25,000 people.

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Mr. Elumelu, who has become one of Africa?s most prominent philanthropists, likes to contrast the results of that $5 million investment ? the jobs it helped create and the tax revenue it generated for governments ? with what he sees as the disappointing track record of foreign-aid money showered on Africa each year.

The Nigerian businessman thinks it?s time for a new approach to Africa?s problems, and he has been pitching the idea in speeches to donors and businessmen, and to the news media.

QUIZ: Think you know Africa? Take our geography quiz.

He calls his idea ?Africacapitalism,? a business-led, African-run approach to fighting poverty.

In 2010, he started the Tony Elumelu Foundation to finance nonprofit work that supports economic growth.

Led by a former Rockefeller Foundation official, Wiebe Boer, the Lagos, Nigeria, foundation seeks to groom business leaders, change government policies that discourage the creation of new enterprises, spread research on entrepreneurship in Africa, and provide capital to businesses that have a social purpose.

Jane Wales, founder of the Global Philanthropy Forum, says Mr. Elumelu stands out as a philanthropist because he doesn?t just rely on grantmaking. He also ties his investments to businesses that bring about social change and uses his own voice and influence to sway policymakers.

?He employs all the tools of strategic philanthropy, and he does so deftly,? she says.

Mr. Elumelu also wants to improve philanthropy in Nigeria and elsewhere on the continent. His organization is pushing legislation in his home country that would seek to organize nonprofits by requiring them to disclose more information about their work.

But Mr. Elumelu is tight-lipped about his own giving, declining to say how much he?s donated to the foundation. Mr. Boer says the foundation will start providing that information soon, most likely in the next year.?

Mr. Elumelu is part of a small but growing cadre of philanthropists in Africa, say experts. Some of the most prominent African donors, like Sudanese-born Mo Ibrahim, run their philanthropic foundations from outside of the continent. (Mr. Ibrahim?s fund, which focuses on good governance in Africa, is based in London.)

Ms. Wales says she sees the African philanthropists following in the footsteps of Bill Gates, Eli Broad, and others who want to use their wealth to solve social problems in their lifetimes.

?In Africa, you?re seeing the same thing: Folks who were very successful in business and who are very quickly moving into philanthropy and doing so in a very generous way,? she says.

? This article originally appeared at The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

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Tips On How To Spend Less On Car Repair Bills That Your Mechanic

While you may enjoy driving your car, you may not know all the internal workings of it. You take pleasure in driving your car, but there is constantly the thought in the back of your mind, about what you would do if your car broke down before you got back home. The automobile guidebook might not be much help but fortunately there is a book that has the information you need. This book that can help is termed ?What Your Mechanic Doesn?t Want You to Know? and it is authored by an honest mechanic named Austin Davis. Want to find out more about the?2012 Hyundai Tucson, then visit Junet Tyler?s site on?2012 Nissan Altima?for your needs.

The cost of maintaining your car has gone up astronomically and it doesn?t look like it is going to stop. The costs of insurance protection, health care, diagnostic equipment, and labor are all being passed on to the client, but you can learn how not to pay those high prices in this ebook. You probably won?t be aware of this but pretty much everything is negotiable, even auto repair prices, but you need to know how to do it. The author of this book is experienced in watching over the shoulder of the mechanic to check for quality control. He?s found out a good deal about the auto repair industry and he is very keen with car diagnostics. The motivation for writing the book was the number of complaints he heard from customers regarding unethical mechanics.

A car mechanic can charge a lot for their services because most people would not know why the car has a problem. How frequently do you even head over to an additional mechanic to get a second opinion? Many of us just assume that our mechanics are honest when in reality they are not. After studying this guide, you will know how these services work and realize how much your mechanic has been overcharging you. You will find out how mechanics consider most people and how they go to great lengths to try to over charge you and you will learn how best to deal with insurance companies.

This particular e-book will show you cases where the customers, by what they say, give the repair shop the opening for taking advantage of them. A lot of repair shops are dishonest and savor taking advantage of people who do not understand auto repair work. This book is valuable for those people who are not happy at all with their current mechanic or repair shop. It will also be helpful for those who want to do their very own auto repair, and are in need of advice on what to do.

?What Your Mechanic Doesn?t Want You to Know? is only $19.95 and it includes three bonus offer books, that will also give you valuable automotive information. If you may not be pleased with the information, you have a ninety day guarantee.

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Analysis: Greeks count mental health cost of a ... - Health and Fitness

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent

LONDON |
Thu May 31, 2012 8:48am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) ? Behind every suicide in crisis-stricken countries such as Greece there are up to 20 more people desperate enough to have tried to end their own lives.

And behind those attempted suicides, experts say there are thousands of hidden cases of mental illness, like depression, alcohol abuse and anxiety disorder, that never make the news, but have large and potentially long-lasting human costs.

The risk, according to some public health experts, is that if and when Greece?s economic woes are over, a legacy of mental illness could remain in a generation of young people damaged by too many years of life without hope.

?Austerity can turn a crisis into an epidemic,? said David Stuckler, a sociologist at Britain?s Cambridge University who has been studying the health impacts of biting budget cuts in Europe as the euro crisis lurches on.

?Job loss can lead to an accumulation of risks that can tip people into depression and severe mental illness which can be difficult to reverse ? especially if people are not getting appropriate care,? Stuckler said.

?Untreated mental illness, just like other forms of illness, can escalate and develop into a problem that is much more difficult to treat later on.?

ACCUMULATION OF RISKS

Youth unemployment in Greece is more than 50 percent and evidence of peoples? disaffection is becoming more visible.

The sight of groups of youths hanging around the streets getting high on illicit drugs is not uncommon in Athens, while a Greek pensioner who hanged himself in the capital on Wednesday was found with a note saying he had always worked hard but had got himself into debt.

Greece is in its fifth year of recession and the prospects for many are bleak. Economists reckon the austerity measures Greece is battling with ? cuts the health minister characterized as being made with a butcher?s knife rather than a scalpel ? offer it slim hope of recovery any time soon.

Those who have jobs are being hit with wage cuts or pay freezes, and live in constant fear of being the next employee to face the chop. Research has found this feeling of profound insecurity can do more psychological damage than anything else.

Peter Kinderman, a professor of clinical psychology at Britain?s University of Liverpool, says the mental health impact of all this turmoil will be rapid and dramatic.

?Instead of seeing a slow increase in the epidemiology of mental illness, what we?re seeing is what we predicted ? that these economic impacts have rapid significance for our way of thinking about the world,? he told Reuters.

And while economic crises may have mental health effects, mental illness in turn has increasingly significant economic effects ? raising the prospect of a vicious cycle.

According to a paper prepared for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2011, the economic consequences of mental health problems ? mainly in the form of lost productivity ? are estimated to average between 3 and 4 percent of gross national product in European Union countries.

And because mental disorders often start in young adulthood, the loss of productivity can be long-lasting, experts say.

CRITICAL WINDOW

Stuckler says there is a ?critical window? for connecting people in need of psychiatric help to the services that could benefit them, and talks of a ?high risk phase? when vulnerable young people haven?t been able to realize what they hoped to do, and then feel like they?re being left behind in a recovery.

?You don?t want them to sink into being chronically unemployed,? he said. ?Because that ends up increasing the costs and pressure on the welfare system further down the line?.

In Greece, suicide rates are already rising rapidly, albeit from a low starting point. Suicides rose by 17 percent between 2007 and 2009, and by 40 percent in the first half of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010, according to a report in the Lancet medical journal last year.

And judging from the experience of financial crises elsewhere, unemployment, poverty and insecurity will also lead to upward trends in demand for mental health services just as they are being cut back.

?Some people can be very profoundly affected ? and end up unhappy and depressed for very long periods for time,? said Kinderman. ?And I suspect some of the casualties in an economic downturn may undergo such fundamental changes in the way they understand themselves and the world, that that way of thinking will last.?

Peter Lloyd Sherlock, professor of social policy at Britain?s University of East Anglia, suggests looking to history for lessons. He points out that in Argentina, which experienced a dire financial downturn from 1999 to 2002, there was a 40 percent increase in consultations in mental health facilities in 2002, according to government data, and there was also a sharp increase in prescriptions of antidepressants.

Previous research has found that people who fall into unemployment and poverty have a significantly greater risk of mental health problems ? and men are at especially increased risk of mental illness, suicide or alcohol abuse during hard times.

Evidence cited in the WHO report suggests the more debt people have, the more likely they are to have mental disorders.

?If the Greek economic woes were to continue for 10 years or more, probably the most important overall effect on mental and physical health will actually be a big increase in inequality,? Lloyd Sherlock said.

DO DEPRESSIONS ALWAYS BREED DEPRESSION?

But does economic depression always mean more psychological depression?

Not necessarily.

Public health experts point to some countries, such as Sweden and Finland, which in times of crisis managed to avoid increases in mental illness and suicide rates by investing in employment initiatives to help get people back on their feet.

In the early 1990s, Sweden underwent a severe bank crisis which sparked a rapid rise in unemployment, but suicide rates were broadly unaffected. In contrast, Spain, which had multiple banking crises in the 1970s and 1980s, saw suicide rates rise as unemployment rates did.

Some experts say a key differentiating factor was the extent to which resources were budgeted for social protection, such as family support, unemployment benefit and healthcare services.

Looking ahead to what he hopes may be less fragile financial times for Greece, Kinderman sounds an optimistic note. While there?s a risk of long-term psychological problems for some, he says, evidence also suggests the majority of people can bounce back if and when economic prospects brighten.

?If you have economic recovery, many people could spark back up into a more optimistic and more self-assured frame of mind relatively quickly,? he said. ?The message for politicians is get the bloody economy right and we?ll start functioning again.?

(Editing by David Holmes)

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'Melissa & Joey' Premiere: During A Home Renovation, Mel And Joe Wind Up In Bed Together (VIDEO)

Tues., May 29: "The Catalina"

(8 p.m. ET on The CW) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> The young, wild staff of The Catalina Hotel in Miami's South Beach are a fun-loving group that work hard during the day, while at night they party even harder than their guests. When the hotel hosts a spring break pool party, it takes an unexpected turn when the clouds come rolling in. Sparks fly between bartenders and former flames Kris and Nancy. Meanwhile, restaurant general manager Morgan is taken out of the kitchen and competes on behalf of the hotel in a beach volleyball tournament.

Tues., May 29: "Cougar Town"

(8 p.m. ET on ABC) <em>season finale</em> <br /><br /> When Grayson complains that he's living the movie "Groundhog Day" because the gang shows up at the same time every day at Jules' house, Jules asks for a "Groundhog Day"-themed bachelorette party so that Ellie and Laurie can explain the movie to her. Then, fed up with the lack of privacy, Grayson convinces Jules to elope to Napa, but the cul de sac crew happily tags along. These are the last two episodes before the show <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/cougar-town-tbs_n_1506806.html" target="_hplink">moves to TBS</a> in the fall.

Tues., May 29: "The Real Queen: By Her Own Royal Family"

(9 p.m. ET on ABC) <em>special presentation</em> <br /><br /> For monarchists, Anglophiles and those who just want to swoon over William and Harry, ABC's Katie Couric interviews the princes and a number of other notable royals in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Tues., May 29: "What Not To Wear"

(9 p.m. ET on TLC) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> For the first time in nine seasons, Stacy and Clinton plan an entire makeover in less than a day -- a makeover that would normally take a week -- and will conduct this makeover in front of a live studio audience of close to 200 people, which has also never been done before. The fashion victim, Ana, who is the self-proclaimed Lady Gaga of Long Island, has one of the most "unique" wardrobes the "WNTW" team has ever seen. TLC also turns to the viewers for the first time to help in the makeover process, with fans voting through Facebook on hair styles, mannequin outfits and the "trashing" portion of the show.

Tues., May 29: "Workaholics"

(10:30 p.m. ET on Comedy Central) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> It's the Season 3 premiere of the single-camera comedy featuring three friends who work together from 9 to 5, live together from 5 to 9 and party together 24/7. Dress codes, deadlines and waking up before noon are not things these guys are used to. They do their jobs and sometimes, they even do them well, but they show up late, leave drunk and always live for the day ... even if they don't know what day it is.

Wed., May 30: "Dogs in the City"

(8 p.m. ET on CBS) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> New York City dog guru Justin Silver works with "Beefy," a celebrity skateboarding bulldog who is making his owner's new wife feel like the third wheel, a model agency owner who starts a war of words with Justin over his take on how to handle her aggressive dog, and a single father and his young daughter who are relying on Justin to help their obese dog lose the excess weight that's threatening her health.

Wed., May 30: "Melissa and Joey"

(8 p.m. ET on ABC Family) <em>one-hour season premiere </em> <br /><br /> In the Season 2 premiere episode, Mel is feeling the pressure of balancing the massive home renovation with her duties at work. Determined to have the house fixed as quickly as possible, Joe convinces a reluctant Mel to put him in charge of the construction. But Joe's management style only makes things worse. In the second episode, Mel is charmed by her "cabinet guy," but is less charmed by Joe's reaction to him, leading them to a fight about being too involved in each other's lives. However, their decision to give each other privacy does not turn out as planned.

Wed., May 30: "America's Next Top Model"

(9 p.m. ET on The CW) <em>season finale</em> <br /><br /> Laura and Sophie participate in their Covergirl commercial and photo shoot, during which one of the women has a panic attack and is taken to the hospital. For the first time in "Top Model" history, the women will take part in a holographic runway show interacting with lifelike images and also walk in sync with the outline of their own bodies. Kelly Cutrone, Nigel Barker, Jay Manuel and Tyra Banks sit on the judges' panel to choose the winner. Enjoy Jay, Nigel and Miss J. while you can, since they <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/americas-next-top-model-nigel-barker-fired_n_1440002.html" target="_hplink">won't be involved next season</a>.

Thurs., May 31: "Breaking Pointe"

(8 p.m. ET on The CW) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> This reality series goes behind the stage curtain for an intense, unfiltered look at one of the most competitive ballet companies in the country, Ballet West, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Beneath the beauty and glamour of the dance and costumes is a gritty dog-eat-dog world of extreme athleticism, focus, dedication, passion, pressure and, of course, the hunt for the unattainable: perfection.

Thurs., May 31: "Touch"

(8 p.m. ET on Fox) <em>two-hour season finale</em> <br /><br /> As the Aster Corporation increases their interest in Jake, Martin joins forces with Abigail (guest star Catherine Dent) as the stakes of Jake's custody escalate. When Avram (guest star Bohdi Elfman) reiterates to Martin that Jake and Amelia (a presumed dead girl with similar characteristics as Jake) are connected, Martin sets out on a passionate mission to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, circumstances intensify when Lucy (guest star Maria Bello) enters the picture and seemingly unrelated events are tied together.

Thurs., May 31: "L.A. Hair"

(10 p.m. ET on WE tv) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> When it comes to celebrity hair, Kim Kimble is one of the biggest names in Hollywood. From movies to music, Kim is an image maker and a trendsetter to a roster of A-listers, including Beyonce and Kelly Rowland, who keep Kim on speed dial to whip up their custom styles and images. While handling her star-studded clientele is a full-time job, this elite style queen also manages a successful retail product line and runs an exclusive Hollywood salon staffed with talented but high-strung stylists, including her mother.

Fri., June 1: "Best Friends Forever"

(8 p.m. ET on NBC) <em>one-hour series finale</em> <br /><br /> The final two episodes of the gone-too-soon comedy air tonight on NBC. In the final episode, Joe, Lennon, Jessica and Rav head to Atlantic City for a gaming convention to debut Joe's videogame. The ladies quickly realize that in order for Joe to win Fan Favorite, they will need to cater to the nerds. Meanwhile, an unexpected encounter between Jessica and Rav has them questioning their true feelings for each other.

Fri., June 1: "The Ultimate Fighter"

(9 p.m. ET on FX) <em>three-hour season finale</em> <br /><br /> Sixteen promising mixed martial artists have been whittled down to two. The remaining fighters will compete for a UFC contract and the title of The Ultimate Fighter in tonight's championship match.

Fri., June 1: "Magic City"

(10 p.m. ET on Starz) <em>season finale</em> <br /><br /> Judi Silver falls into Klein's hands, while Victor and Mercedes get bad news. Lily and Stevie's affair gets more dangerous. As he juggles family, Ben Diamond and a new partner, Ike's future is uncertain.

Sat., June 2: "The Glee Project"

(7 p.m. ET on Oxygen)<em> season premiere</em> <br /><br /> Before the show settles into its regular 10 p.m. Tuesday slot, meet the 14 contenders who will be narrowed down as the creative forces of "Glee" carefully assess who has what it takes to win the prize of a lifetime -- a seven-episode guest starring role on the hit Fox series.

Sat., June 2: "Dog the Bounty Hunter"

(9 p.m. ET on A&E) <em>double-bill, new timeslot</em> <br /><br /> The <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/dog-the-bounty-hunter-canceled_n_1534490.html" target="_hplink">just-cancelled</a> series moves from Wednesdays to Saturdays with double-bills for the remainder of its run. The world's most famous bounty hunter, Duane "Dog" Chapman, is back with action-packed, high-stakes hunts from Hawaii to Colorado, tracking down fugitives with his wife Beth and fearless family-based posse.

Sun., June 3: "Secret Millionaire"

(8 p.m. ET on ABC) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> Millionaire and world-renowned artist Scott Jacobs and his sheltered 18-year-old daughter, Alexa, leave behind their family and lavish lifestyle in San Diego to spend six days in Newark, New Jersey -- an American city in need -- to search for those struggling the most for financial help. While there, father and daughter will attempt to survive on less than $75 during their week-long visit, while volunteering their time to worthy charitable organizations and searching their hearts to determine how much of their own fortune to gift the community heroes they meet.

Sun., June 3: "Drop Dead Diva"

(9 p.m. ET on Lifetime) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> This one-hour dramedy tells the story of a shallow wannabe model who dies in a sudden accident only to find her soul resurfaced in the body of a brilliant, plus-size and recently deceased attorney, Jane. Kim Kardashian makes her debut for a multi-episode arc in the season opener.

Sun., June 3: "Game of Thrones"

(9 p.m. ET on HBO) <em>70-minute season finale</em> <br /><br /> In the wake of the penultimate episode's epic battle, Theon stirs his men to action; Luwin offers some final advice; Brienne silences Jaime; Arya receives a gift from Jaqen; Dany goes to a strange place; and Jon proves himself to Qhorin.

Sun., June 3: "Longmire"

(10 p.m. ET on A&E) <em>series premiere</em> <br /><br /> Widowed only a year, Longmire (Robert Taylor) is a man in psychic repair who buries his pain behind a brave face and dry wit. Struggling since his wife's death and at the urging of his daughter, Cady (Cassidy Freeman), Longmire knows that the time has come to turn his life around. With the help of Vic (Katee Sackhoff), a female deputy new to the department, he becomes reinvigorated about his job and committed to running for re-election. When Branch (Bailey Chase), an ambitious, young deputy decides to run against him for sheriff, Longmire feels betrayed, but remains steadfast in his dedication to the community. Worn, but not worn out, Longmire often turns to close friend and confidant Henry Standing Bear (Lou Diamond Phillips) for support as he sets out to rebuild both his personal and professional lives, one step at a time.

Sun., June 3: "Teen Wolf"

(11 p.m. ET on MTV) <em>season premiere</em> <br /><br /> Following the MTV Movie Awards, "Teen Wolf" is back with Season 2. In the sophomore season premiere, Jackson refuses to search for Lydia and Scott receives a warning from Argent.

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